The meaning of the celebration
+ According to ancient tradition, no Masses are celebrated on Good Friday. Instead, the faithful gather to re-tell the story of the Passion of Jesus, to venerate the Cross, and to receive Holy Communion (using hosts consecrated during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday).
+ The liturgy of Good Friday begins and ends in silence, signifying that it is part of one great celebration that extends from the end of the Holy Thursday’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper to the beginning of the Easter Vigil on Saturday night.
+ The Church invites us to reflect not only on the suffering and death of Jesus on this day, but to celebrate the Cross as the Tree of Life and the sign of our salvation.
For prayer and reflection
“There flowed from his side water and blood. Beloved, do not pass over this mystery without thought; it has yet another hidden meaning, which I will explain to you. I said that water and blood symbolized baptism and the holy eucharist. From these two sacraments the Church is born: from baptism, the cleansing water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit, and from the holy eucharist. Since the symbols of baptism and the eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam.”—Saint John Chrysostom
Religious Life
Many religious communities are dedicated to the memory of the Passion of the Lord and the Cross of Christ.
For men
-The Benedictine Monks of Monastery of the Holy Cross (Chicago, IL): www.chicagomonk.org
-Congregation of Holy Cross (Priests and Brothers): www.holycrossusa.org
-The Crosier Fathers and Brothers: www.crosiervocations.org
-The Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross: www.franciscanbrothers.net
-Holy Cross Brothers: www.holycrossbrothers.org
-Passionist Priests and Brothers (Holy Cross Province): https://passionist.org/
-Passionist Priests and Brothers (Province of St. Paul of the Cross): www.thepassionists.org
For women
-The Benedictine Sisters of Jesus Crucified (Branford, CT): www.benedictinesjc.org
-The Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Monastery of the Holy Cross (Iron Moutnain, MI): www.holycrosscarmel.com
-The Daughters of the Cross of Liege: www.daughtersofthecross.org.uk
-Lovers of the Holy Cross of Los Angeles: www.lhcla.org
-Marianites of the Holy Cross: www.marianites.org
-Sisters of Holy Cross: www.sistersofholycross.org
-Sisters of Loretto: www.lorettocommunity.org
-Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross: www.holycrosssisters.org
-Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross: www.gbfranciscans.org
-Sisters of the Cross of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: www.religiosasdelacruz.wordpress.com
-Sisters of the Holy Cross: www.cscsisters.org
-Passionist Nuns (Erlanger, KY): www.erlangerpassionists.org
-Passionist Nuns (Pittsburgh, PA): http://www.passionistnunspgh.org
-Passionist Nuns (Abington Twp, PA): www.passionstnunsclarkssummit.org
-Passionist Nuns (Whitesville, KY): www.passionistnuns.org
-Passionist Nuns (Ellisville, MO): www.passionistnunsofstlouis.org
-Passionist Sisters (North Kingstown, RI): www.passionistsisters.org
Prayer
Remember your mercies, O Lord,
and with your eternal protection sanctify your servants,
for whom Christ your Son,
by the shedding of his Blood,
established the Paschal Mystery.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Collect for Good Friday)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...